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N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, n. C4

@einen tetes datent ffirr.`

JAMES A. BURNS, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, vASSIGNCR TO HIMSELF AND T; B. CARPENTER, OF THE SAME PLACE.l

Letters Patent No. 68,557, dated September 3, 1867.

IMPROVED PLATE-LETER.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY` CONCERN Be it known that I, JAMES A. BURNS, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in PlateLifter.; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection-with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side view,

Figure 2 an end view, and in Figures 3 and 4 different modifications of the same.

The invention relates to an improvement in an instrument ior raising hot plates or similar dishes, and commonly called a plate-lifter; and consists in the peculiar arrangement of two swinging clasps attached to a handle, so that by turning the handle either to the right or left the handle will strike one of the clasps so as to raise or open the clasps to be placed over the plate.

To enable others to construct and use my improvement I will proceed to describe the same as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.`

A is the handle, I3 and C the two clasps attached to the handle byva staple, D, as seen in figs. l and 2, and formed at their lower ends into any convenient shape for elasping upon the plate. Between the two clasps C B a projection', E, extends down from the handle, as seen in gs. 1 and 2, bywhich to operate the clasps, soV that byturning the handle, as to the position denoted in blue, fig. 2, the said projection will raise the clasp 'I3 to the position also denoted in blue; or, in the other direction, will raise the clasp C to the position denoted in red. Therefore, tollift a plate, first hook either one of the clasps on to one side of the plate; then turn the handle to spread the clasps, so that theother clasp will catch over the other side of the plate; then the plate may be raised and released therefrom by turning the handle as before described.

Il' preferred, and for heavy plates it doubtless would be better, the two clasps may be secured and hinged to the upper side of the handle A, as seen in figs. 3 and 4. In this case, the handle itself, lying between the two clasps, serves the same purpose for raising and opening the clasps, as the projection E, before described, and is operated in the same manner. v

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Thc two clasps B and C, in combination with the handle A, when the said clasps are both hinged to the handle, and constructed and arranged so as to operate substantially as described.

J. A, BURNS.

Witnesses:

A. J. '.lrnnrrs, JOHN E. EARLE, JonN H. SIIUMWAY. 

